euro|topics - Dominique Seux

21/11/2008

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Seux, Dominique

5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

Les Echos - France | 15/10/2008

Assistance for the labour market

The daily Les Echos is demanding that concrete measures be taken to stop unemployment rising: "In the next two years the economy will create hardly any new jobs. That is a U-turn compared with the previous period, in which thousands more jobs became available. At a time when enormous sums are being provided to save the financial system, we should be using that same energy to create jobs. It is not necessarily a question of spending more money, ... but rather of spending it more sensibly. The state should push ahead with the reorganization of the employment office, which has yet to make a tangible contribution. Nor would it be completely absurd to create state-subsidised jobs. The social partners should be doing more to tackle unemployment, which would include addressing changed working conditions (fixed-term contracts, temporary work etc.)."

Les Echos - France | 28/07/2008

The Olympic flame in a storm

Les Echos warns in its leader that if France continues to behave undiplomatically towards China it will suffer economically: "It is just a small signal and will perhaps never be officially confirmed. Beijing's mayor has decided ... to ban French investments on his territory for at least three months. ... There can be little doubt about the reason for this move: the storm that has shaken relations between the two countries since this spring has entered a new phase. ... The images of the clashes while the Olympic torch made its way through Paris and Nicolas Sarkozy's hesitance about attending the Olympic opening ceremony have deeply annoyed [the Chinese]. ... [France] will be the only country that is likely to suffer economically because of the political tensions. ... If French firms are put at a disadvantage it will mean that France has not played this game very skilfully."

Les Echos - France | 17/07/2008

Fear of inflation

The whole of Europe is suffering from rising inflation. The business newspaper Les Echos addresses the various aspects of the French debate: "One thing is clear. The return of inflation has already changed the way the economy functions and will continue to do so. ... The bad news ... is that the industrial giants, which have in the past 'determined' price rises for raw materials, have changed their attitude. The head of Renault-Nissan Carlos Ghosn is not the only one - he announced that the price of his cars was set to rise. ... After the summer break wages will be back on the agenda. Many bosses know that the trade unions want to exploit [inflation], ... to push for big wage increases. The good news is that in the debate at least no-one is talking about the alleged benefits of inflation. ... The conclusion one comes to is not very satisfactory, but it is hardly to be doubted: Like its neighbours, France will be forced to live with [inflation]."

Les Echos - France | 20/05/2008

The fateful 35 hours

The economic newspaper Les Echos joins in the current political debate about the 35-hour-week in France: "An economic impact that is difficult to assess and one of the world's most complex labour laws: one can hardly say the 35 hour week, which yesterday celebrated its 10th anniversary, is a complete success. ... Its defenders talk of a major social achievement, but companies have absorbed the extra costs at the price of increased productivity and stagnant salaries. Nonetheless, it would not be feasible to abolish this legal limit on working hours. Such a step would lead to insurmountable practical problems. Moreover, it would represent a break with France's social history that seems neither possible nor sensible." The author agrees with the government's argument that the answer can only be more flexible working hours: "The only solution is to continue promoting work as a value and relying on the most effective principle: 'Those who work more earn more'."

Les Echos - France | 09/07/2007

Criticisms of Sarkozy's economic policies

"Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the Eurogroup tonight in Brussels is without a doubt one of the most important he has faced since his entry into the Elysee", writes Dominique Seux. "The head of state ... decided to explain and defend his economic policy in front of an audience that is far - and this is a euphemism - from backing his cause. ... France has been out of step with its partners for too long a time. It constantly calls for the Euro zone to be governed economically, but when it comes to its public finances, it marches to its own beat by refusing to use growth periods to speed up its repayments and re-establish its wiggle room for economic downturns. ... For the first time this year, France will be, according to a report presented in Brussels June 13th, the European country with the highest level of public spending (53.2% of GDP) in the Union of 27."

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